NECTRESSE™Sweetener is a new no calorie sweetener that is 150 time sweeter then sugar and can be used in cooking and baking. It is the only 100% natural sweetener made from fruit (monk fruit). It is a great way to add some sweetness to a recipe without adding calories!

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
2. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray (or line with tin foil)
3. Combine: NECTRESSE™Sweetener packets, peanut butter, margarine, honey and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, take off heat and then add the vanilla.
4. Pour peanut butter mixture over the oats in a mixing bowl and stir to coat.
5. Pour granola onto the cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until brown, stirring often. Let cool and then add the dried fruit and peanuts. Store in an air tight container for up to one week.

This makes a great healthy snack or breakfast! It is so yummy! My kids and hubby love it!

Monday, September 17, 2012

It is time to get into the Halloween spirit! I made these last year, but some how they did not end up on the blog... so hooray for me this year when I needed a post! :) These are great for your halloween mantel!

Here is a SUPER easy craft to get in the halloween spirit!

Here is what you will need:

Candle holders (I made mine from a candle holder and a candle stick from the dollar store)

1. I didn't have orange paint... but I had yellow and red so I mixed them!

2. I painted the orange gloss enamels paint using a brush. I wanted my strokes to look like the lines on the pumpkin. Let dry.

I printed off some pumpkin faces and taped it to the inside the candle holder. I used my 3D Gloss Enamel's black paint to trace over the face. You can find pumpkin faces by googling "pumpkin face templates"

Let the paint dry for 48 hours and then cook at 200 degrees for 30 min. in an un-preheated oven. Let cool with the oven door open.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

My Nephews' birthdays are at the end of summer. There mom (my SIL) asked me to create some dress-up clothes for them that will not fall apart and she also said that they like pirate and knights. I was up for the challenge.

Totally cool- right?! Now the guy who made this, created the whole thing. I was inspired but I also wanted a short cut so I thought I could start with a gray hoodie and add to it to make it look like knight armor.

1. Cut out the mask pattern and trace the outline of the it onto your felt on the fold. Cut out the pattern out of the felt.

2. Use your pattern to trace the holes onto one side of the mask. Flip the pattern over to the other side and trace the holes. Cut out the holes (I used a sharp scissors). Sew zig-zag details on to the mask to give it dimension. (not pictured- use your button hole attachment on your sewing machine to add a button hole to each side of the mask)

3. Mark of each side of the hood were you want your button to go to attach the mask. Sew on the buttons. Cut out the helmet rim pattern. Trace the pattern on the fold of the felt and cut it out. Add zig-zag stitching around the outside edge to give it dimension. Attach it to the top of the hood lining up the ends with the buttons.

4. Cut out the shoulder armor pattern and trace it on the fold of your felt. Line up the middle of the shoulder armor with the seam of the shoulder of the hoodie and pin in place. Sew on to the shoulder using a zig-zag stitch. I used 2 lines.

Here are my nephews sporting their new Knight hoodies! For the breast plats I just cut out a shield shape and sewed elastic straps to the back in a criss-cross. Then I used a stencil to monogram them.